Ninth Level Ireland

“Jumping housing prices and inadequate accommodation make the issue of living away from home very difficult for students attending Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT ) this year. ‘Many people may not think it’s an issue compared bigger cities like Dublin. Athlone will of course not be going through the same huge rent being charged in our capital city, however it is still putting huge amounts of strain onto students both due to the lack of accommodation as well as the rising prices …'” (more)

[Ronan Fagan, Athlone Advertiser, 12 September]

“Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans for university status to be conferred on institutes of technology and in particular upon Athlone Institute of Technology; the timescale envisaged for such development; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 April]

“Students studying at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) are among the most satisfied in Ireland, according to The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 released at the weekend …” (more)

[Athlone Advertiser, 8 November]

“Irish educational institutions have signed deals to make closer ties between Irish and Chinese research in computer science and AI. A number of Irish universities and institutes of technology have opened their doors to Chinese research as part of a series of new deals signed between them and Chinese universities …” (more)

[Colm Gorey, Silicon Republic, 24 October]

“The aspirational quest to attain technological university status at Athlone Institute of Technology advanced this week with the allocation of additional Government funding aimed at facilitating the ultimate goal of the third level educational establishment …” (more)

[Ronan Fagan, Athlone Advertiser, 18 October]

“The rightful entitlement to democratic freedom of expression was reflected on the streets of Athlone on Wednesday afternoon when students from Athlone Institute of Technology marched, in peaceful protest mode, from the education establishment to Burgess Park in the centre of town, expressing their immense dissatisfaction at the lack of funding allocated to third level institution mental health counselling services …” (more)

[Ronan Fagan, Athlone Advertiser, 11 October]

“About one in six third-level students – or almost 6,000 a year – don’t get beyond the first year of their college course, according to a recent Higher Education Authority study. The type of student most likely to drop out is male, with relatively low Leaving Cert points, and studying for a higher certificate or ordinary degree in computer science, construction or engineering at an institute of technology …” (more)

[Owen Ross, Irish Times, 21 June]

“Speaking at this week’s meeting of the Athlone Municipal District, which took place in the Institute Boardroom at AIT, Professor Ó Catháin told councillors that work to achieve TU status is ongoing, with ‘finding the right dance partner’ being the aim …” (more)

[Athlone Advertiser, 10 May]

“Letterkenny Institute of Technology has been named as runner up in the prestigious Sunday Times Institute of Technology of the Year 2017. The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 has listed LYIT as runner up with Athlone Institute of Technology winner …” (more)

[Highland Radio, 6 October]

“On Monday, Minister for Education Richard Bruton and Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, announced amendments to the Technological Universities Bill, which do not include the possibility of an institute of technology gaining university status without merging with another educational institution. It is now intended that the revised Bill will be re-introduced at Committee stage early in the next Dáil session …” (more)

[Robert Grace, Athlone Advertiser, 20 July]

“Ireland can respond to the uncertainty created by the changing international economic environment by pursuing a ‘skills incentivisation strategy’ that develops school leavers into the most highly-skilled graduate workforce on the planet …” (more)

[Owen Ross, Irish Times, 28 March]

“Senator Gabrielle McFadden has urged the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney TD to consider city status for Athlone and asked him to encourage the Minister for Education to consider Athlone Institute of Technology for university status …” (more)

[Westmeath Examiner, 8 March]

“Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on the Technological Universities Bill 2015; if he still favours the amalgamation of AIT with Dundalk; if his Department is examining alternative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dail written answers, 21 February]

“Universities have told an Oireachtas Committee they ‘seriously question’ why a fund that is heading towards a surplus of more than €270 million is not released to address the crisis in the Higher Education sector. Addressing the Joint Committee on Education the current president of the Irish Universities Association, Professor Don Barry, said that the National Training Fund was ‘heavily in surplus’ …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 10 November]

“AIT president Professor Ciarán Ó Cátháin says urgent action is needed to address the shortfall in funding for the institute, following the publication of the Cassells Report on third level education this week …” (more)

[Tríona Doherty, Athlone Advertiser, 14 July]

“In response to a Parliamentary Question from Deputy Peter Burke, Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton has stated that he will be consulting with Athlone Institute of Technology shortly in relation to the upgrading of the college to a Technological University …” (more)

[Athlone Advertiser, 7 July]

“Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to upgrade AIT Athlone to university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 30 June]

“Waterford Independent TD John Halligan says he was the one who insisted that the requirement for IT’s to merge in order to gain university status be removed …” (more)

[WLR FM, 9 May]

“A pathway for Athlone Institute of Technology to become a university has been included in the Programme for Government, Independent Alliance TD Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has said. It is understood that the programme was finalised last night and could be published as early as today …” (more)

[Cormac McQuinn, Independent, 9 May]

“Fianna Fáil candidate for Longford-Westmeath Connie Gerety Quinn has slammed the Government for neglecting Athlone IT, stating: ‘It is shameful that this Government has neglected Athlone IT …'” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 4 February]